Dawson Back On Job

State Senator From Fort Lauderdale Had Spine Surgery.

TALLAHASSEE — State Sen. Mandy Dawson, D-Fort Lauderdale, returned to her legislative duties in the Capitol on Thursday after undergoing a second operation for a recurring spinal condition.

"It's a degenerative spinal disease. It causes pain in different places," said Dawson, 47, who is wearing a neck brace and is using a wheelchair to navigate the halls. "It's been an interesting odyssey for me."

It was the second surgery for Dawson to alleviate persistent spinal discomfort. She was taken to a Tallahassee hospital by ambulance during committee meetings in January and has missed several weeks of meetings besides the first two weeks of this year's legislative session.

She said her major push this session will be on legislation increasing penalties for people who leave children unattended in cars and doubling the salary of state legislators to $50,000.

"The public thinks I make more than $100,000 or something," she said. "And I think, `Yeah, I wish.' My staff's salary is higher than mine."